The disAbility Law Center of Virginia is following and speaking to bills in the legislature concerning the children with disabilities who are aging out of the foster care system. These children find themselves suddenly with no resources, no safety net, and often no planning for their future. Here are two bills intended to address those concerns:
SB 40 (Favola) directs the State Board of Social Services to amend state regulations to 1) require local departments of social services to apply for federal financial benefits, from the Social Security Administration or Veterans Affairs, to which foster youth are eligible to receive, 2) prohibit the use of these benefits to pay for these foster youth’s foster care services, and 3) require any local boards of social services who serve as the representative payee for foster youth who receive federal benefits to preserve their benefits in a manner that does not jeopardize those youth’s eligibility for benefits, such as in an ABLE account. This Bill is similar to HB 75. The bill was approved by the Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services but referred to Senate Finance.
HB 75 (Hope) directs the State Board of Social Services to amend state regulations to 1) require local departments of social services to apply for federal financial benefits to which foster youth are eligible to receive, 2) prohibit the use of these benefits to pay for these foster youth’s foster care services, and 3) require any local boards of social services who serve as the representative payee for foster youth who receive federal benefits to preserve their benefits in a manner that does not jeopardize those youth’s eligibility for benefits, such as in an ABLE account. This Bill is similar to SB 40. It will be heard in the House Committee on Health and Human Services, subcommittee on social services.
Our mission is to advance independence, choice, and self-determination; protect legal, human, and civil rights; and eliminate abuse, neglect, and discrimination of people with disabilities through zealous and uncompromising legal advocacy and representation.
We are available to educate policymakers about the potential impact of legislative proposals. Please let us know of any issues that you think we should be following. Contact us at ga@dlcv.org or info@dlcv.org or by calling 1-800-552-3962 or 1-804-225-2042.